The Character of Faith

Real, Formative faith begins with God

We have to have faith in God before we will have faith in His promises.

Romans 4:20–21 CSB

20 He did not waver in unbelief at God’s promise but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 because he was fully convinced that what God had promised, he was also able to do.

His faith was not based on a gift He expected to receive.

His faith was based on the ability of the gift-giver.

It was because Abraham had faith in God, and what He was capable of doing that he chose to hope in the promise God gave him.

God’s Plan for your Life really is the BEST plan

Jeremiah 29:11 CSB

11 For I know the plans I have for you”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

God makes that promise to the Israelites while they were in captivity in Babylon.

It is a promised that is based on the Character of God, not just an empty promise.

If a police officer ran into the room right now and yelled “There is an active shooter on campus, everyone to the basement!”

Because of their uniform and what we believe about their uniform, we are going to trust their words, even if we don’t see the threat right in front of us.

That’s how it is with God. Because He is GOD, we should put our hope in Him.

There shouldn’t have to be any other reason.

He is God. I am not. He knows everything. I do not. He is perfect. I am not. He knows the future. I do not.

I must put my faith in Him and allow Him to be my only hope.

What are some things that people trust their life and future to these days?

[Author Note: Some answers might be money, education, investments, retirement, fame, athletics, relationships, etc.]

Is there anything wrong with these things? Are they, by definition, sinful? No!

BUT, are they anything to put our ultimate hope in? Absolutely not.

Any of these things can be gone in an instant. We must put our hope in something greater than these.

That thing, or person, is God.

We put our trust in Christ, and He becomes our eternal hope. Look back at Romans 4.

Romans 4:22–25 ESV

22 That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” 23 But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, 24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

Abraham was convinced that WHATEVER God promised He was able to do, and that faith was what made him righteous, or sinless, in the eyes of God.

And that faith is what led Abraham’s life, what gave him perspective and wisdom to make decisions in his life, to choose what was right and wrong.

In the same way, your perspective of God (what you believer to be true about Him) will influence your decisions and directions in life.

If God is that ALMIGHTY LORD and SAVIOR of our life, then how is He and His promises influencing your hopes and plans now and for your future?

Does your faith and trust in God show up in the everyday decisions your are making?

Is God’s plan for your life, whatever that might be, the one you are hoping and trusting in?

Invitation

God’s Plan for your Life really is the BEST plan

That plan begins with your giving your life to Him and letting him lead you and guide you.

It means trading your hopes and dreams, which may or may not come about, for His hopes and dreams for you, which are guaranteed to come true.

Tonight may be the night you need to give your life to Christ, and receive the hope He offers to those who trust in Him.

What if you have already given your life to Jesus?

Examine your heart. Where is your hope?

What does your life reveal about your hope? What do your worries and anxieties reveal about your hope?

It is education, relationship, money, athletics, or some dream about what life might be like?

Here’s the honest truth…those things might happen, but they won’t satisfy and they don’t last forever.

Maybe you need to refocus and let God be the primary hope and shot caller for your life.